Fox leaves Gray off colour

Fresh from his PGA Cup exploits with GB&I at Slaley Hall, Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) defeated Stephen Gray (Hayston) in a sudden-death play-off for the first prize of £1,103 in the Tain-Brora 36-hole Challenge.

Over the second and final round at Brora, like Tain a par-70 lay-out, Fox shot a two-under-par 68 to a three-under final tally of 137 which Gray matched with a 67 at Brora.

Fox won the play-off at the first hole with a par to score his eighth win of the season and boost his tournament earnings for the year to £26,763.

 Gray had driven into the rough on the right of the first fairway and from a difficult lie went over the green onto the back fringe from where he took three more to get down. Fox was about ten feet away in two shots and safely two-putted up for his win.

Gray earned £763 for second place.

Chris Kelly (Cawder), one of the five joint overnight leaders on 68, finished third on 138 with a 70 at Brora.

Best score of the day was a 66 from Paul Affleck, which will be recognised as a course record after the extension of Brora's 11th hole into a par five since last year's  winner David Patrick set a pro record of  63. Affleck finished tied 12th overall on 141.